STATEHOUSE (April 30, 2012) – Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long (R-Ft. Wayne) today appointed State Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Buck Creek) as Senate Majority Floor Leader. Hershman will assume the post from former State Sen. Connie Lawson, who left the Senate in March to become Indiana’s Secretary of State.

“Brandt has repeatedly proven to be a strong leader, both as the Chair of the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee as well as in the position of Majority Whip,” Long said. “He brings valuable experience and perspective to the role of Majority Floor Leader, and I am confident that he will do an excellent job for us.”

The Majority Floor Leader is the top leadership post appointed by the Senate President Pro Tem. The Majority Leader serves as a senior advisor to the Pro Tem and in a variety of roles including administrative management, oversight of the Senate floor and development of legislative priorities. Hershman will also continue in his role as Chair of the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy.

Hershman graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Political Science and is currently pursuing a juris doctorate from the Indiana University McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis. His legislative achievements include authoring Indiana's landmark telecommunications deregulation act, co-authoring the Major Moves transportation bill and, most recently, co-authoring the elimination of Indiana's inheritance tax. He was also recently honored as the 2012 NFIB Guardian of Small Business.

"I appreciate the trust and responsibility I have been given to serve the Senate and the people of Indiana as Majority Floor Leader, and I want to thank Senator Long for this opportunity,” Hershman said.

Hershman and his wife Lisa reside near Buck Creek in Tippecanoe County. He represents Senate District 7, which includes all or parts of Boone, Carroll, Clinton, Jasper, Tippecanoe and White counties.

After HoursAlerts and NotificationAnnouncementsBlogsCelebrationsDeadlinesFairs and ExhibitionsHoosier HistoryInitiativesKids and FamiliesLectures and DiscussionsMedia AdvisoryHearingsOral ArgumentsPerformancesPublic SafetyMeetingsSeasonal EventsSeminars/WorkshopsState HolidaysPublic Service Opportunities